CHAPTER 86: POISONED

Freya wrenched herself free, stumbling back, her face pale as Luminawords replayed in her head.

"You... you witch!" she spat, her voice trembling already terrified at what crazy thing Lumina could do to her.

Ashen’s dagger was already drawn, almost losing it at how Freya insulted his woman. He lunged forward, the blade raised.

"Ashen!" Lumina’s voice rang through the dungeon, when she felt his action she knew he was about to hurt Freya.

But before another word could pass, the sound of footsteps echoed, it took just a few seconds and the air thickened instantly.

Ashen froze. His lips parted in a snarl. "Mother," he whispered, recognizing her footsteps.

Just then Queen Sephora appeared in the archway, looking so pissed that he had sent for Freya’s release and the news reached her that Ashen was there already.

Lumina and Ashen lowered their heads in reluctant bows as Lady Freya rushed forward, falling dramatically to her knees before the Queen.

"Your Highness!" Freya cried, her voice breaking. "You came just in time. He... he almost killed me!"

Queen’s Sephora eyes shifted slowly to her son, and the silence that followed was sharper than any blade.

"You would be long gone by now if he wanted to kill you," Lumina said, first making Freya swallow hard.

"Are you defying my decree?" Queen Sephora demanded, her gaze narrowing at Ashen.

Before Ashen could respond, Lumina’s hand shot out and grasped his. Her grip was firm, grounding him like she was controlling him.

"Of course he isn’t," she said softly, her tone unwavering.

"She has been released, just as you wanted, Your Highness. Even if she broke the rules, we see how partial this has been... all because of her, as dictated by your own woman."

"You!" Queen Sephora stormed forward, but Ashen moved so fast, with lightning speed, he pulled Lumina behind him.

Then Queen Sephora’s strike caught Ashen on the back. Lumina eyes understanding that Ashen had just protected her from Queen Sephora’s strike.

"Ashen..." Lumina gasped, her voice tight with worry.

He exhaled slowly, his eyes flicking to her. "Stop provoking her. She’s always fast, and frightening," he murmured, reaching over to make sure Lumina was unharmed.

Queen Sephora’s gaze swept over Lady Freya. "Let’s leave. I don’t think I would spare her if we stayed any longer." With that, she turned and departed, along with Lady Freya smirking as she glanced back at the couple.

Without another word, he lifted Lumina into his arms, her weight light against him, and strode out of the dungeon.

Rage burned in him, the thought of the punishment he had wanted to cast on Freya but now thwarted by his mother.

When they reached the inner chambers, Ashen gently set Lumina down. He was about to turn away when her hand shot out and caught his wrist.

"Thank you... for saving me," she whispered.

He gave her a brief, silent nod and wanted to leave, but she held on, tugging him back gently

"Why are you mad at me?" She asked but he sighed, still not looking at her.

"Do you think I shouldn’t get mad? Here I am always trying to protect you. But you just allow others to bully you constantly and let them go." Lumina smiled at this, he was worried about her.

He is mad because Lady Freya was released, she was pretty sure he wanted to kill her. But she couldn’t let her die easily, she is the queen, and she was pretty sure she would need her in the future.

"I poisoned her, that was why I allowed her to get released," Lumina said calmly as she awaited his outbursts.

Ashen froze, turning to her with a sharp frown. "What do you mean?"

"Well... technically, I don’t know the exact nature of the poison I had used on her, but I know it is aiming for life so I wanted to test it on her," Lumina admitted, her blind eyes lowered.

Ashen’s brows knit together in confusion and concern. "You... you poisoned her? Again?" His mind raced, recalling the first time she had poisoned the Queen.

Lumina’s lips trembled as a faint trace of tears slipped down her cheeks.

"How did you get poison? Are you always carrying it with you?" Ashen asked worriedly. He was so worried about her having poison with her, she couldn’t be found with poison, that she would be killed.

"Don’t worry this time it will get traced to the King of the Celestial Realm. I also controlled it carefully, made sure it wouldn’t harm her internal organs quickly"

Ashen’s voice was sharp, panicked. "What are you saying? Why would it be traced down to your father?!"

Lumina turned away, letting another single tear fall.

"I have been poisoned but I managed to contain the poison... control it..."

Ashen rushed toward her, his hand reaching to steady her, trying to understand what she meant.

"Yo... You... How did you get poisoned?" he stuttered like he was trying to see any traces on her.

"Relax.." This time she was forced out. She had been trying to control it from affecting her but using her power in the dungeon had triggered it.

The moment her father had grabbed her hands back in their chambers she knew. In fact, she had expected the moment they stepped on the Drakonis soil.

But before Ashen could ask more questions, a dark crimson streak appeared at the corner of her lips.

Her body went limp in his arms, and blood dripped softly onto the floor.

"Lumina!" he roared, catching her before she collapsed entirely. His heart pounded violently, his mind spinning.

Her body rested against him, trembling, yet her hand found his arm weakly as she squeezed it.

Ashen’s eyes burned at the thought, he didn’t understand what was going on.

He tightened his hold, his lips brushing against her temple. "Stay with me," he whispered harshly. "Do you hear me? You are not going anywhere."

But Lumina was getting too weak to talk, her eyelids fluttered slightly, and a small, almost satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her lips despite her weakened state.